Air-ship.



No. 326,038. PATENTED JULY 17, 1906. J. KRBMENOK.

AIR SHIP. APPLICATION FILED DEU.17. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Witnesses Inventor PATENTED JULY 17, 1906.

J. KREMENOK.

AIR SHIP. APPLICATION FILED DEU.17. 1904.

2 sums-511mm.

v mm rwu m t e mm 1 m RN if. WI 7 V e a \k Lu Y v N Q J/Jn. |l\ QM mm" N Hy EN .I g 118,8 n v \N w 4 N i N Witnesses yTUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

JOHN KREMENOK, OF RAUINE, WISCONSIN.

AIR-SHIP- To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN KREMENOK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Racine, in the county of Racine, and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Air-Ship, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates to improvements in air-ships, and has for its principal object to provide an aerial vessel which may be readily propelled and guided in any desired direction.

A further object of'the invention is to provide a strongly-braced but light framework for the support of the propeller and steeringrudders and for sustaining the car and all of its parts from the balloon or gas-field.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel form of propeller and to provide means whereby the air ,drawn into the propeller-casing may be utilized in ascending and descending.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel form of forward steering-rudd er which may beshifted to various positions in order to guide the vessel to the right or left bothin ascending and descending. A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel form of aerial vessel in which the gas-field is provided with means for the .escape of excess gas without danger of reduction of the volume below a predetermined extent. I

With these and other objects-in view, as Will'more fully hereinafter a pear, the invention consists 1n certain nove featuresof construction and arran ement of parts, hereinfrom the spirit or sacrificing any of the advanta es of theinvention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an air-ship constructed in accordance with the invention. 1 Fig. 2 is a detail erspective view of the various parts of the fiame. 3 is a similar view of the forward portion of the frame, illustrating particularly the arrangement of the cables and the adjustment ofthe forward steeringrudder. Fig. .4 is a detail sectional view showing one of the adjusting devices of the Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed December 17. 1904- Serial No. 237.290.

' Patented July 17, 1906.

forward steering-rudder. Fi .5isasectional elevation, on an enlarged sca e, of a portion of the car, illustrating rincipally the arrangement of the propel lng-engine and the steering-wheels. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the pro eller and showing also a portion of a propel er-casing. Fig.

7 is a detail plan view of the rudder-post and arms of the rear rudder.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings In carrying out the invention a cylindrical balloon 10 is constructed of silk or the like, and this is protected by an outer covering of linen. The balloon is preferably in the form of a long cylinder having pointed ends, and when in position its longitudinal axis isv disposed at an acute angle to the horizontal lines of the frame and the horizontal plane of'the propeller, so that in ascending the under sur- 1 ace of the balloon .will act as an aeroplane.

To the opposite sides of the balloon are secured two metallic tubes 12, at the opposite ends of which are secured lighter and smaller tubes 13, that are. extended toward the front and rear ends of said balloon and are connected to the linen covering'by suitable loops or rings. The tubes 12 are provided with a number of erforations 14 to permit adjustment of the bolts 15, which connect said tubes to hangers 16, four of the latter being employed, and these being connected to the four corners of the car 17..

The skeleton of the car is formed, preferably, of light metallic strips connected to form a basket-like structure of convenient width and depth, and in this basket is an engine 18 of any suitable character, preferably an internal combustion engine, and the basket also carries a number of steeringwheels 19, 19, 20, and 21, having suitab e drums of ordinary construction, over which pass tiller-ropes or cables that are connected to the forward and aft rudders. At the front of the car is arranged a pair of vertical I octagonal frame 26, within which the proeller is arranged. The propeller-inclosing 7 v rame is formed of three octagonal frame structures 27, that are connected at interrent of air.

. be formed of linen or other light material, which may be coated with oil to prevent the passage of air. The ofpposite ends of the casing are of course 1e t open for the passage of a curwith bearings for the support of a longitudinally-disposed shaft 30, to-which a number 'of collars 31 are rigidly secured. From the collars projects a series of ribs 32, each of which is curved or bent by means of a cable or rod 33, secured to the outer end of the rib and its inner end to that'side of the collar 0 posite the point of attachment of said rib, t us forming a very rigid structure for the support of a fpropeller-blade 34, which may an suitable material. The ropeller-blade is elical in form, and its shaft s connected .by a belt 35 to the engine or other source of power, air being sucked-in at the front of the casin and forced-from the rear end thereof, so t. at within the casing there is a strong current of air which when dischar ed at the rear of the vessel will cause forwar movement of the latter. To the rear bars 24 of the frame are secured rearwardly-extending brackets38, to which is pivoted a rudder frame 39 of a height equal at least to the diameter of the propeller. This rudder-frame is covered by canvas, linen, or other suitable material. To the lower end of the rudder-post are secured arms 40, from which extend tiller-rods 41 to the drum of the steering-wheel 21 and if' the rudder is shifted either to the right or left the volume of air directedagainst its angularly-presented surface by the propeller will cause immediate turning of the vessel.

On the two forward tubes or bars 23 of the wheel 20, so that the block may be positive y raised or lowered and any suitable locking means may be employed to retain it in adjusted position. In this block is journaled a short shaft 44, at the inner end of which is a worm-Wheel 45, intermeshing with a Worm 46, that is feathered on a vertically-disposed shaft 47, ada ted to suitable bearings 1n the frame. The ower end of the shaft 47 is rovided with a bevel ear 50, with w 'ch meshes a second beve -gear 51, that is secured to a handled crank-shaft 52, the crank being Within convenient reach ofan attend ant at the forward end of the basket or cage.

Connected to the front end. of the shaft 44 by the universal'joint 53 is a T 54, and to said 1' are secured three tubes or rods 55,56,

and 57. The forward tube extends outward The framework is also provided frame is mounted a vertically-slidable block 42 to the upper and lower sides of which are connected cables 43, running to a steerin for a considerable distance and carries a second smaller tube 58 in order to reduce the weight where great strength is not essential. These four tubes support a triangular rudder 59.

The frame is provided with four pulleys or 1 sheaves 60, 61, 62, and 63, the s eaves 60 and 61 being arranged'op osite each other in vertical allnement and tile sheaves 62 and 63 being disposed in horizontal alinement'. Over the sheaves 60 and 61 passesa cable 65, that is extended to the frame of the steeringwheel 19. By turning this wheel in one direction or the other the rudder may be adjusted at any desired angle to the horizontal and employed as an aeroplane to assist in either upward or downward movement of'the vessel, asmay be desired.

Extending over the sheaves 62 and 63 is a cable 67, having its central portion wound around the drum of the steering-Wheel 19 and itsop osite ends being connected, to. gether with the ends of the cable '65, to a swiveled head 68 at the outer end of the tube 58. By turning the steering-wheel 19 in the pro er direction the point of the rudder may be irected either to the right or to the left toassist the main aft rudder in directing the course of the vessel.

The worm-'gearin is so arranged that the forward rudder may e turned to either a vertical or a horizontal position, and in starting it will preferably be disposed in the horizontal position or at an angle to the horizontal to assist the vessel in ascending. After reaching the desired height the rudder may be turned to the vertical position and is utilized for steering dpl lirposes.

may be elevated almost to the top of the proeller-casing, so all of the air which enters theatter or the greater part of the air will be from below the rudder, and thus will assist materially in the ascension, owing to the current of air created on the under side of said rudder, and in the same manner by lowermg the rudder the current of air ma be cause to strike on to of the same, an thus assist in the descending movement.

To the lower portion of the balloon 1s connected a filling tube 70, through which the necessary gas may be supplied, and at a point near the top of the balloon is an escape-valve 71, operated b lines" 72 from the basket.

It is advisab e in many cases to provide for the escape of surplus gas wlthout' danger of permitting the escape of'more than a predetermined volume; andfor this purpose there is joined to the under side of the'main balloon a supplemental compartment 73 and at the lowermost end of said compartment the I sheaves 76, carried b the hangers 16.

mg from the upperand lower si With a device of t character it'is obvious that by roper manipulation of the forward and ad? rudders and b rotating the propeller the vessel may be ected to the right or leftand may be made to ascend or descend, being at all times under the control of the operator. 7

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed isj 1. In an air-ship, a propeller, 'a casing with in which th'e ropeller is arranged, a rudder at the front 0 the casing and means for raising and lowering the rear end of. the rudder to vary the volume of air passin into the easlies of the rudder, and means for varying 'the angular position of said rudder.

' rear end of the rudder to va 2. In an air-ship, a propeller, and a casin within which the propeller is contained, and a revoluble rudder arranged at the front of the casing and adjustable to present its rearcross-bar either in a horizontal or vertical plane, means for adjustin the front end of t ed propeller-casing, a vertically-adjustable block at the front end of the casing, a rudderframe, a universal joint connectin the rudder-frame to the block, said ru der-frame being'adjustable to' present the frame at any angle, and means .for adjusting the front end 4 of the rudder-frame to direct the course of the ship.

4. In an air-ship, a propeller, a propellercasing open at its front and rear ends, a verand means for turning the worm.

6. The combination in an air-ship, of a -a worm mtermeshing with. saidworm-wheel,

propeller-shaft, collars on said shaft, a plurality of curved ribs projecting from the collars and arranged in a helical series, tension members connecting the outer ends of the ribsto' said collars, thereby maintaining the ribs in curved positions, a helical propellerstrip carried by said ribs, and an open-ended casin within which the propeller is arran ed.

7. he combination 1n an air-ship, 0 an elongated gas-field, a basket or car. arranged below the gasefield, and in a lane at an acute angle to the axial plane of the gas-field, telescopically-adjustable tubessecured to the up; posite sides of the gas-field, front and rear pairs of hangers depending from said tubes and secured at their lower ends to the basket or car, a propeller-casing disposed in a horizontal plane above the basket or car, a propeller in said casing, front and rear rudders at the ends of the casing, means for operating said rudders, and means for adjusting the vertical position of the front rudder.

Intestimony that --I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aifixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN KREMENOK.

Witnesses:

AUGUST R'Arr, W. J. J 4mm. 

